Music-leaf turner



(No Model.)

J H WARD MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

No. 473,802. Patented Apr. 26, 1892.

MEN I y i k UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

JOHN HERBERT ARD, OF TREVORTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 473,802, dated April 26, 1892.

Application filed October 6, 1891- Serial No. 407,859. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN HERBERT WARD, of Trevortou, county of Northumberland, and State 0i Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Music-Leaf Turners, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a front view of the improvements, the front side of the inclosing casing being broken away to show the internal m echanism. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are views of parts in detail.

All of the operative parts of the improved music-leaf turner are carried by an inclosing casing A, which is of small size, so as to be conveniently carried about, and which is adapted to be placed and held upon the ordinary music desk or rack of a piano, organ, or other musical instrument. It may be, and preferably is, covered with cloth or otherwise padded, so as not to injure the instrument on which it is placed and so as to renderit noiseless.

B is a vertical shaft journaled within the casing and extending above the same where it carries aifixed thereto a leaf-turning arm 0. This arm carries a sliding leaf-clamp D of any suitable construction forclasping and holding a music-leaf. This clamp D is mounted to slide 011 the arm 0 and has a square socket fitting and sliding on a squared portion of the arm 0, so that it cannot turn on said arm C. The leaf-clamp D is arranged to slide on the arm 0, so as not to interfere with the turning of a music-leaf in case the inusic or music-book should not be placed in position with its center coinciding with the shaft B. At its free end the arm 0 is formed with a manipulating-handle E.

Within the casing A there is a coiled spring F, secured at opposite ends to the casing and shaft B, respectively. This spring when free to act turns the shaft in a direction to swing the arm 0 from right to left, thereby turning the leaf of music. To hold the shaft B from being turned by the spring, and thus to maintain the arm 0 at its normal right-hand position, a detent mechanism is employed.

G is a disk carried by the shaft B and having a detaining-notch H therein.

I is a detent-lever pivoted within the casing, having a handle end J, extending out through one end of the casing and having a detent end K co-operating with the notch H. A coiled spring L, attached at opposite ends to the casing and to the pivot-shaft of the lever I, holds the detent K in notch H and causes the detent to engage said notch when displaced therefrom. Normally the detent K is located in the notch H, thereby maintaining the arm 0 at the right. To use the apparatus a music-leaf to be turned is grasped by the clamp D. \Vhen the leaf is to be turned, the handle J of lever I is touched by the finger and pressed inwardly. This releases the detent K from notch II, thereby leaving the shaft B free to be turned by spring F. Shaft B then turns, carrying with it arm 0 to the left and thus turning the leaf. The leaf is restored to its normal position by turning the arm 0 by hand. IVhen arm C is thus turned to its normal position, detent K, under the influence of spring L, drops automatically into notch II, thereby locking arm O in its normal position.

A ledge M for music to rest on is provided above the arm 0, and this ledge may have folding arms N N, affording a back rest for the music. Clamps O O are provided for securing the apparatus in place.

I am aware that music-leaf turners are not in themselves new. Most, if not all, of priorproposed leaf-turners have been impracticable, since they have endeavored to provide for turning aplurality of leaves in succession. This has rendered them cumbersome, expensive, and impracticable, since they frequently turn, accidentally, two sheets at once and are noisy. The labor and time involved in getting music ready to be used with them has also been a serious objection. Since ninety per cent. of all popular music has only one leaf to be turned to enable a single composi- 1o oted lever having; a handle at one end and having a detent at the other end which fits in said notch and a spring 'whiclllholds said detent in said notch, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing I5 witnesses.

JonN HERBERT WARD. Witnesses:

HARRY E. PLUMMER, S. H. BERGER. 

